Bayer Leverkusen is stuck deep in the table basement. The situation after the meager 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen is tense. Once again keeper Lukas Hradecky looks unhappy, once again it will be tight for coach Gerardo Seoane. What’s going on under the Bayer Cross?
“Brutally dangerous”, “you have to be concerned”, “of course I’m worried”: Robert Andrich, coach Gerardo Seoane and defense chief Jonathan Tah shrilled after Bayer Leverkusen’s disappointing 1-1 (0-0) against newly promoted Werder Bremen the alarm bells. After the sixth game without a three in the seventh Bundesliga game of the season, there was a mood of crisis.
A meager five points, table basement instead of European Cup place is the bitter reality under the Bayer Cross. “We don’t need to lie to each other. We’re where we are. We don’t like it at all,” said Andrich and made it clear: “Everyone has to be aware of what’s going on. Everyone has to realize that we have to score. Nothing else matters right now.”
Seoane didn’t mince words. “There are always several analyses,” said the Swiss: “The performance, but also the points, because that’s what it’s all about in the end. And that’s where we’re unsatisfied and unsatisfied.” Despite the unfortunate situation and a crisis meeting on Sunday, the Leverkusen coach will probably still be in the saddle after the international break. Hard but no more. He “wobbles anyway”, the “kicker” knew to report.
After a wild encounter marked by many shortcomings, Leverkusen struggled, as so often, with the exploitation of chances. Bayer, who had given Seoane some breathing room during the week by beating Atlético Madrid 2-0 in the Champions League, repeatedly pushed through through their fast wingers Jeremie Frimpong and Piero Hincapie. The majority of the 20 flanks ended up with a Bremen player.
“We play very, very well on the flanks, but then the pass is very, very often missing,” said Andrich, emphasizing: “We have to work on that. That must be one of our strengths, because we always get past with our speed. “
The behavior after Kerem Demirbay’s opening goal (57th), which was well worth seeing, was inexplicable. Bayer became extremely passive, let Bremen take control of the game and couldn’t complain that Milos Veljkovic (82′) equalised. Leverkusen’s captain and keeper Lukas Hradecky made an unfortunate impression.
“The focus is going forward. We now have a short break in which we can reflect again and think about what we need to do better. It is clear that things cannot go on like this,” said Tah. Andrich added combatively: “We’re going to Munich to take something with us.”
